AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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There were few reported incidents of ‘‘factory invasions’’ such as those that occurred
in 2001; however, coercion continued to be an issue, particularly regarding
the ZFTU’s actions.
The Export Processing Zones Act states the LRA shall not apply to workers in
export processing zones (EPZs). The ZCTU has negotiated directly with EPZ employers
to allow some unions in the EPZ, although their number and level of activity
remained low.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Bonded Labor.—The law prohibits forced or bonded
labor, including by children; however, there were reports that such practices occurred
(see Section 6.f.). The traditional practice of offering a young girl as compensatory
payment in interfamily disputes continued in rural areas (see Section 5).
The Government, war veterans, and the ZFTU have the power to force workers
to perform labor, which they might not otherwise choose. In addition, during the
year, the Government announced a compulsory youth service requirement under
which young citizens were forced to undertake training at government-sponsored
training camps such as the Border Gezi Youth Training Camp (see Section 5). This
camp was the source of the youth militia forces, or ‘‘Green Bombers,’’ who were deployed
widely to harass, abduct, and torture suspected MDC supporters during the
March presidential elections. The stated purpose of the training camps was to instill
a sense of pride in the youths, highlight the history of the struggle for independence,
and develop employment skills; however, they were reported to be training camps
to instill ZANU-PF allegiance, paramilitary skills, and expertise in political oppression
and torture.
d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment.—The law
sets the minimum age for general employment of children at 12 years and restricts
employment of those between the ages of 12 and 17 to light work during school holidays
for periods not exceeding 6 hours per day. Light work was defined as work not
likely to prejudice a child’s education, health, safety, rest, or social, physical, or
mental development. All hazardous employment, overtime, and night shift work was
banned for those under the age of 18; however, there was little to no enforcement
of these laws.
Child labor was common. According to the 2000 National Child Labor Survey, approximately
25 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17 were involved in
some form of child labor. Children worked in the agricultural sector, and there were
reports that children worked as domestics and as car-watchers. Some form of child
labor on large commercial farms formerly was widespread; however, the land resettlement
program, which has expropriated almost 95 percent of commercial farms,
has dispossessed child workers along with many thousands of adults.
The unemployment rate continued to grow, with some estimates as high as 75
percent, decreasing the number of children employed in the formal sector. However,
the incidence of children working in the informal sector increased as families, often
headed by children, needed a source of income. Approximately 35 percent of the
adult population were infected with HIV/AIDS. As a result, more children worked
in the informal sector to fill the income gap left by ill or deceased relatives. Many
children sold simple wares on the streets; others worked in the booming illegal gold
panning industry. In addition, there were reports of an increasing number of girls
under 17 years of age engaged in prostitution. The deteriorating economy, accelerating
social breakdown, and increasing impact of HIV/AIDS were forcing more
children to work. Although child labor in the agricultural, domestic, and informal
sectors increasingly was discussed, the Government and NGOs have been unable to
gather concrete data on the number of cases.
In 2001 Parliament passed the Child Adoption and Protection Amendment Act,
which incorporates ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor; however,
the law was not implemented by year’s end.
Forced child labor and child prostitution occurred (see Sections 6.c. and 6.f.)
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work.—The maximum legal workweek is 54 hours, and
the law prescribes a minimum of one 24-hour rest period per week. The Government
regulated working conditions on an industry-specific basis. The Constitution provides
the PSC with the authority to set conditions of employment in the public sector.
The Government eliminated a national minimum wage as part of the Economic
Structural Adjustment Program of 1990, with the exception of agricultural and domestic
workers. Government regulations for each of the 22 industrial sectors continued
to specify minimum wages, hours, holidays, and required safety measures. In
recent years, in an effort to remove itself from the wage bargaining system, the Government
mandated wage parameters for industries. Due to an ineffective monitoring
system, many agricultural and domestic workers were remunerated below the minimum
wage. In October 2001, the Government implemented new monthly wages of
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